1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
339 
ffilje feterinarg department. 
Influenza in Horses. 
Eds. Cultivator— The disease I am about to con- 
aider under the above appellation, is better known 
among horsemen by that of “ distemper.’ 7 From the 
real nature and proper treatment of this affection not 
being properly understood, the number ol horses which 
annually fall a sacrifice to its influence is almost beyond 
conception. 
The hcaracter of this, like many other diseases, varies 
according to the season of the year, as well as the 
state and condition in which the animal is placed at the 
time of being attacked. It most frequently occurs 
when the weather is changeable, particularly in the 
spring and autumn months; and from being prevalent 
in some seasons more than in others, it has in conse¬ 
quence been considered to be a contagious disease; but 
the most probable cause appears to me to be sudden at¬ 
mospheric changes, as from dry to wet, and from hot 
to cold. In its simplest or least complicated forms, it 
bears a resemblance to common cold (catarrh;) the mu¬ 
cous membrane of the l ' air passages,” is its primary 
and principal seat, generally commencing in the cham¬ 
bers of the nose, and upper part of the throat, extend¬ 
ing in some instances down the windpipe, and its rami¬ 
fications the bronchial tubes; or it may go still further, 
and ultimately involve the whole substance of the 
lungs. 
In some subjects its attack is very slight. The horse 
is first observed to be languid and dull; he refuses part 
or the whole of his feed of grain—occasionally coughs; 
he is incapable of undergoing any considerable exertion ; 
signs of soreness of his throat are soon observed; the 
food cannot be swallowed as usual; the slightest com¬ 
pression of the throat makes the animal flinch and sets 
him coughing; the mouth is dry, and the membranes of 
the eye and nose are somewhat unusually red. In some 
severe cases, the soreness of the throat causes the ani¬ 
mal to carry his neck stiff, with his nose projected; the 
food and water, when attempted to be swallowed, is 
forced back again through the nostrils; the glands 
about the throat are more or less swollen; the breath¬ 
ing is short, difficult and painful, and attended with a 
peculiar hoarse sound in the throat. In other instances 
the membrane lining the lungs, (bronchial,) receives 
the principal brunt of the disease; the horse now stands 
in his stall dull and listless, in one particular place; 
the breathing is short and quick, (but not deeply 
drawn;) the pulse is accelerated and weak; skin and 
legs rather warm than cold; membrane of the eye ex¬ 
hibits rather a yellowish-red cast; the discharge from 
the nose is also of a bilious hue. 
It is not my intention in this article to attempt a de¬ 
scription of all the characters that this disease occa¬ 
sionally assumes, but briefly to notice its most promi¬ 
nent features. 
In determining the treatment of “ influenza,” regard 
must be paid to the seat and extent of the derangement 
constituting it, always bearing in mind that the tenden¬ 
cy and certain issue of this disease is debility. Hence, 
in the generality of cases, the most cautious treatment 
is necessary; for if active measures are resorted to, 
such as large and repeated blood-letting, rowels, strong 
physic, &c., the horse becomes debilitated, his extremi¬ 
ties (legs) enlarged and dropsical, and he either dies of 
“ yellow water,” (dropsy,) or remains for a long time in 
a low and weak state. 
At the commencement of the disease, it is necessary 
to keep the animal in a large stall, without exercise; 
and in the summer let the temperature be kept as cool 
as possible, cautiously avoiding a direct current of air. 
The diet may consist of scalded bran and hay, with te¬ 
pid water, in which a few drachms of nitrate of potash 
(nitre) is dissolved, always within his reach; or it may 
be sweetened with honey or molasses, providing the pa¬ 
tient likes it. The horse should be well wisped or 
brushed, and clothed warmly, particularly when he feels 
cold and shivers. If the bowels are constipated, two 
ounces of cream of tartar may be given in the drink 
every morning, and should the excretions appear pent 
up, the hand oiled is to be introduced and the rectum 
emptied, and afterwards a clyster given composed of 
gruel, linseed tea, or a decoction of slippery elm. 
When horses are of great value, I have suspended 
under their throat bags containing bran and linseed 
meal poultices, and renew them every two hours, keep¬ 
ing the animal at the same time comfortably clothed. 
Or the throat may be well fomented with water as hot 
as a man can bear his hand immersed in, and steaming 
his nose with the vapor arising from it; after which 
the glands about the upper part of the windpipe should 
be well rubbed with the following liniment: alcohol 
one pint, camphor one ounce, soft soap four ounces, 
spirit of hartshorn, (water of ammonia,) two ounces. 
Simple means, such as these, will, in the generality of 
cases, be followed by the happiest result; a complete 
restoration to health. Arthur S. Copeman. Utica. 
She fjortimltural department 
CONDUCTED BY J. J. THOMAS. 
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Arrangement oi the Fruit Garden. 
In setting out the different kinds of fruit trees, 
which when full grown vary much in size, cultiva¬ 
tors are often puzzled to know how to arrange them 
economically, so that the larger may have room 
enough, and the smaller may not occup} 7 too much 
space. The above figure represents a mode by 
which this difficulty has been very successfully re¬ 
moved, by planting the larger sorts in wider rows, 
and the smaller more nearly together. By this ar¬ 
rangement, the trees stand in rows both ways, and 
thus no hindrance is imposed to their easy cultiva¬ 
tion by horses. 
The Apricots, Plums, Nectarines, and other 
fruits liable to injury by the curculio, among which 
may also be included some of the earlier and more 
thin-skinned peaches and cherries, should be plant¬ 
ed separately at one end of the fruit garden, and 
as soon as they commence bearing, a temporary low 
hurdle fence, a a, run across to separate them from 
the rest for the confinement of pigs, geese, &c. 
These animals, on the whole, are the most cheap 
and effectual remedy for the curculio, serving part¬ 
ly to frighten away the insects, and to destroy those 
which drop in the stung fruit. Other remedies may 
be added where necessary. 
Those who are about commencing such a garden, 
cannot well take too much pains in the previous 
